Center biased electric switch for a reversible d.c. motor



y 25, 1967 G. A. DU ROCHER ETAL. 3,333,067

CENTER BIASED ELECTRIC SWITCH FOR A REVERSIBLE D.C. MOTOR Filed Nov. 26, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 2x A/ A,

' v INVENTODS 4 GIDEON A. DU ROCHER BY/ILLIAM F. SWISHED y 1967 G A. DU ROCHER ETAL 3,333,067

CENTER BIASED ELECTRIC SWITCH FOR A REVERSIBLE D.C. MOTOR Filed Nov. 26, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 78 INVENTODS GIDEON A. DUROCHEF? WILLIAM F. SWISHER BY g) ?7 9 y 1967 G. A. DU ROCHER ETAL 3,333,067

CENTER BIASED ELECTRIC SWITCH FOR A REVERSIBLE D.C. MOTOR Filed Nov. 26, 1965 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 GIDEON A. D WILLIAM F.

y 25, 1967 G. A. DU ROC.HYER ETAL 3,333,067

CENTER BIASED ELECTRIC SWITCH FOR A REVERSIBLE D.C. MOTOR Filed Nov. 26, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 22 INVENTOQS GIDEON A. DUDOCHEIQ L BY WILLIAM F. SWISHEIQ I' M W 9L United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electrical switch for a reversible D.C. motor including a switch assembly having a pair of contactors therein actuated by actuating means comprising two biased plungers movable together, the contactors being supported on yoke means in such manner that only a single contactor is actuated at one time, although the two plungers move together, said contactor means being in side-by-side relationship but oriented in opposite directions.

This invention relates to electric switch means and, more particularly, to an improved electrical switch assembly of relatively simplified and inexpensive construction for controlling an actuating motor, as for example, a permanent magnet reversible DC. motor for raising and lowering the windows in an automobile. Further, this invention relates to improved means for interconnecting the ground and feed terminals respectively, of a plurality of switch assemblies to one another through separate buss plates.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved switch assembly for use in controlling a circuit which comprises a two-piece casing having slotted and recessed openings in the bottom thereof for facilitating retention of terminals therein.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved switch assembly having a pair of contactors pivotally supported therein by yoke members of predeter-mined configuration, such contactors being movable by actuating means including a pair of plungers to effect desired switching of only one of the contactors at a time although the actuating plungers move together.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide buss plate means having slotted openings therein for connecting selected terminals of a number of switch assemblies to one another and to buss plate means.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a switch assembly having an insulator between the ground buss plate and the feed buss plate, such insulator having projections extending outwardly therefrom, the projections being folded against the bottom of the outermost buss plate to prevent shorting of the terminals engaged thereby by a spring retainer utilized for affixing the switch means to a mounting member.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a switch assembly comprised of stamped and molded components which are inexpensive to fabricate and which are easily assembled, the parts being subjected to comparatively little stress, whereby the switch is capable of operating for long periods of time without failure. Other of FIG. 1, with parts of the buss plate means and insulator being broken away;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a typical switch assembly installation in a mounting member;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view through a switch assembly of FIG. 1 and illustrating the organization of the internal components;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the contactors, yoke members and terminal board in a switch assembly taken generally along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side view of an insulator and handle utilized in the switch assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an insulator and handle taken generally along line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a switch assembly illustrating the two casing sections and one of the spring clips used for joining the casing sections;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a contactor and an associated yoke member;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a switch assembly embodying the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is an illustrative schematic circuit diagram showing a four-switch gang assembly and a plurality of separate remotely located switch assemblies.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a switch assembly gang 10 comprising a plurality of identical switch assemblies 12 joined to elongated buss plates 14 and 16. The buss plates, which are preferably formed from copper, are separated from one another by means of an elongated insulator plate 18, which may be made from fish paper.

Each switch assembly 12 comprises a two-part casing 20 having contactor means therein adapted to be actuated by operation of the handle 22 of the switch actuating means which are pivotally supported in the casing 20. Extending from each switch assembly 12 are a plurality of terminals 24, 26, 28, 30, 32 and 34.

In FIG. 2, it is seen that there are six terminals extending outwardly from each switch assembly 12. Ground terminals 24 and 26 are in engagement and electrically connected to the ground buss p1ate-14 and are insulated from feed buss plate 16. Feed terminals 28 and 30 are insulated from ground buss plate 14 and are mechaniobjects and advantages of the present invention will be- 7 come more apparent hereinafter.

The specific details of the invention and their mode of functioning will be made most manifest in clear, concise and exact terms in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a plurality of switch assemblies embodying the principles of this invention mounted on common buss plate means;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the switch assembly gang cally and electrically connected to the feed buss plate 16. The arm terminals 32 and 34 are electrically insulated from both the feed buss plate 16 and the ground buss plate 14. One feature of this invention is the means for connecting the ground terminals and the feed terminals of each switch assembly 12 to their respective buss plates 14 and 16. As seen in FIG. 2, buss plates 14 and 16 are provided with a plurality of like slotted openings 36 and 36', respectively. The ends of the openings 36 are defined by slits. This construction results in the formation of struck out portions 37 and 38 each having defined centrally thereof a curved recess 39 conforming to the exterior surface of an associated terminal. In assembly of the gang unit, as the terminals are forced through the slotted openings 36, the projections or struck out portions 37 and 38, respectively, are forced outwardly and retained in tight engagement with the terminal extending through the associated opening 36. The openings 36 in the feed buss plate 16 are adapted to engage with the feed terminals 28 and 30. Circular openings 40 in the feed buss plate 16 are of suflicient size so that there is no contact between the ground terminals and the feed buss plate.

The slotted openings 36' in the ground buss plate 14 provide electrical connection of each of the ground terminals 2'4 and 26 to the ground buss plate 14. Enlarged openings 40 are provided in the ground buss plate 14 to permit the passage of the feed terminals therethrough u without engagement with the ground buss plate. A corner of the ground buss plate 14 maybe notched or cut away, as indicated at 42, to provide clearance for the feed terminal 30 shown in the lower left corner of the gang unit in FIG. 2.

Extending from the sides of the buss plate insulator 18, which may be formed from plastic, are a plurality of insulator tabs or extensions 18a. The function of these tabs will be set forth hereinafter.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a typical installation of a switch assembly 12. The switch assembly is adapted to be supported in a suitable mounting member or escutcheon 45 having an opening 47 in the top thereof to permit the handle or lever 22 to extend therethrough. Spring retaining means 48 are disposed at each side of the switch assembly 12 for retaining the switch assembly in the cavity 51 in escutcheon 45. Each retaining means comprises a spring clip which includes a hook-like portion 48a adapted to engage with the switch assembly and a struck out portion 48b adapted to engage within a recess or opening 53 in the side walls of the escutcheon 45. It is noted that the tabs 18a on the buss plate insulator 18 are bent over so that the hook-like portions 48a of the retaining means engage the insultaor tabs 18a and not the ground buss plate. In this manner, shorting of the terminals by the spring retainer or retaining means 48 is obviated.

Referring now to FIGS. 4-10, there is illustrated in detail the construction of a switch assembly 12. Each switch assembly 12 includes a casing 20 comprised of like casing sections 46 and 46a. The casing sections which may be molded plastic members are mirror images of one another. Accordingly, numerals will be applied to one section and like numerals with a subscript a will be applied to like elements on the other section. The inner faces of the sections 46 and 46a lie in a flat plane and abut one another. To properly orient and align section 46 with section 46a, cooperating means 43 are provided on the abutting faces. Such cooperating means may comprise projections extending from the section 46 which engage with recesses in the section 46a. U-shaped spring clip members 50 are provided to retain the sections 46 and 46a in assembled relationship. The clip members 50' are adapted to be retained in grooves 49, 49a provided in the exterior surface of the casing sections.

Supported within the casing or housing 20' is a terminal board 54 to which the ground terminals, arm terminals and feed terminals are suitably afifixed. Another feature of this invention is the manner in which the terminals are retained in place in the switch assembly. The top portion of each ground terminal and feed terminal is formed with a plurality of longitudinally extending splines. In FIG. 4, the splines on feed terminal 30 are indicated at 56 and the splines on ground terminal 24 are indicated at 58. The splines on the tops of the ground and feed terminals cooperate with openings extending through the terminal board 54 that have. a complementary configuration. Annular stop flanges 60 on each of the feed terminals 30 limit the extent the splines 56 extend through the terminal board 54. A like stop flange 62 on each ground terminal limits the protrusion of the splines 58 through the associated openings in the terminal board 54. Annular flange v 64 is provided on each arm terminal to limit the extension of the top portion through the terminal board.

The terminal board 54 is provided with projections 54a at each end thereof which engage within recesses 55 at each side of the sections 46 and 46a. The flanges 60, 62 and 64, respectively, engage within slot-like elongated recesses 68, 69 and 70, respectively, in each casing section 46 and 46a. The terminals pass through slot-like openings 72, 73 and 74, respectively, in the casing sections. The elongated openings 72, 73 and 74 in the bottom of each casing section extend inwardly from the abutting faces of the sections. The counterbored recesses 68, 69 and 70 are formed in the bottoms of each section of casing 20. Openings 72, 73 and 74 are similar in shape to the recesses 68, 69 and 70 but are lesser in extent than such recesses.

Aflixed to the terminal board 54 are a pair of U-shaped yoke members 77 and 7 8 (FIGS. 4, 5 and 9). Conveniently, the upper end of arm terminals 32 and 34 extend through an opening in the base of a yoke member and is staked thereto to join both the arm terminal and an associated yoke member to the terminal board. Yoke member 77 comprises a base having a pair of spaced arms 77a extending upwardly therefrom. Provided in the arms 77a in yoke 77 are notches 77b. The yoke members 77 and 78 are so constructed and arranged within a switch assembly that the notches 77b and 78b extend in opposite directions.

Pivotally supported on each of the yokes 77, 78 is a contactor 80, 81. The contactors 80 and 81 are structurally the same except that they extend in opposite directions with respect to one another. Contactor 88 comprises a flat planar portion 80a and an offset portion 88b disposed at an angle with respect to the plane of the planar portion. Ramp means are defined by a pair of lugs 88c and 80 d that are struck out centrally of the contactor 80. Spaced pairs of lugs of projections Sue and 80] extend from each side of the contactor 80. The lugs 80c and 8W are spaced apart a suflicient distance so that lugs We can engage the notches 77b in yoke 77 and lugs 80 can ride on the curved surfaces 770 of the arms 77a of the yoke 77.

The actuating means for the contactors 80 and 81 comprise an insulator 84 having bosses 85 at each end thereof which are adapted to be journaled in the openings 86 in the walls of easing parts 46 and 46a. Afiixed to the insulator is the handle22 for moving the insulator 84 about its pivot axis extending through the bosses 85. Provided within recesses 88 in the insulator 84 are plungers 90. Each plunger is adapted to be slidably disposed .within the recess 88 and is biased outwardly from the insulator by a spring 91 into engagement with a contactor. The rounded bottom of each plunger is adapted to engage the ramp portion of a respective contactor 80, 81, for selectively pivoting one or the other of the contactors as the actuating means is pivoted about its pivot axis through the bosses 85 of insulator 84. Internal webs 94 extending inwardly into the cavity defined within the casing 20 function as stop means to limit the pivoting of the actuating means. As best seen in FIG. 4, the sides of the insulator 84 abut the exterior convex surfaces of the webs 94 as the actuating means is pivoted clockwise or coun terclockwise. Since the plungers 90 are biased into engagement with the respective contactors 80 and 81, there is sufiicient yielding to prevent undesired deformation of the struck portions defining the ramp means intermediate each contactor.

The yokes 77 and 78 are identical structurally, but face in opposite directions. As best seen in FIGS. 4, 5 and 9, the notches 77b in yoke 77 cooperate with the lugs 80:; to prevent rotation of the contactor 80 when lever .or handle 22 is pivoted clockwise (FIG. 4).

Contactor 80 can be pivoted clockwise about its axis through the yoke means 77 to make contact with feed terminal 30 when handle 22 is moved counterclockwise. The contactor 81 is constructed and arranged such that the lugs 81a of the contactor =81 engage with the notches 78b in the arms 78a of the yoke 78' when the lever 22 is moved counterclockwise (FIG. 4). Therefore, it is evident that during movement of the actuating means counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 4, only contactor 80 will be moved to engage the offset portion 80b with the up feed terminal 30. Contactor 81 will not move since the lugs 81e thereon are abutting the top surfaces of notches 78b. Upon pivoting of the actuating means including the handle 22 clockwise as viewed in FIG. 4, contactor 80' will remain stationary (since lugs 80:: are engaged in notches 77b) and offset portion 81b of contactor 81 will be moved into engagement with the down" feed terminal 28.

plunger toward engagement with the ramp means of an associated contactor means.

5. A switch assembly as in claim 1 wherein said yoke means include pairs of arms extending upwardly from the bottom of the casing, said coopertaing means including notches in one end of one pair of arms, notches in the opposite end of the other pair of arms, and lug means projecting from each contactor means for engagement with a respective pair of notches, said notches and lug means cooperating to restrict pivoting of said contactor means in one direction, whereby upon actuation of said actuating means about its axis in a selected direction, only one contactor means will be moved to engage its associated feed terminal.

6. Switch means as in claim 1 wherein each terminal has a flange adjacent an end thereof abutting the terminal board, said casing parts being provided with slot-like openings extending from the abutting faces of said casing parts and slot-like recesses formed in said casing parts about said slot-like openings, said terminals extending through said openings and said flanges being disposed in said recesses when the casing parts are joined to define said casing.

7. Switch means as in claim 1 including a plurality of switch assemblies, elongated electrically-conductive buss plate means having openings therein, some openings being greater in size than the terminals to permit passage of the terminals through such openings without contacting the buss plate means, other openings being defined by proiections struck from the buss plate means and engaging selected terminals to electrically connect said selected terminals to the buss plate means, said buss plate means supporting said plurality of switches.

8. Switch means as in claim 7 w-hereinsaid buss plate means comprises a feed buss plate and a ground buss plate, an insulator between said buss plates, sai-d insulator including spaced tabs projecting from the side of said insulator, said tabs being folded over one of said buss plates, said folded over tab portions being adapted to be engaged by spring retainers, whereby shortening of the terminals engaged by the one. buss plate is prevented when the switch means are supported on a mounting means by the spring retainers.

9. Switch means comprising a switch assembly including a terminal board, terminal means including a pair of feed terminals, a pair of arm terminals and a pair of ground terminals, aifixed to said terminal board with each feed terminal, arm terminal and ground terminal being aligned in a row and with a ground terminal in one row being disposed adjacent a feed terminal in the other row, a casing defined by a pair of interengaging casing parts receiving said terminal board, there being a cavity defined within said casing, yoke means supported in said cavity by said arm terminals, a pair of contactor means within said casing movably supported on said yoke means, said contactor means each including a .planar part and an offset part and having ramp means thereon, said contactor means being in side-by-side relationship but oriented in opposite directions, cooperating means on said yoke means and each of said contactor means for permitting pivoting of one contactor means into engagement with a feed terminal at a time, and actuating means including a plunger engaged with the ramp means on each contactor means for moving one contactor means at a time between, a position engaging its associated ground terminal to a position engaging an associated feed terminal.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,027,538 1/1936 Krieger ZOO-68 2,248,361 7/ 1941 Krieger 2'00"68 2,649,511 8/1953 Gaynor 200 6 2,658,130 12/1953 Bondurant 200-168 2,874,338 2/1959 Pease 317-99 2,948,834 8/ 1960' Kalifaian 317-101 ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner. I-I. BURKS, Assistant Examiner.

Referring to FIG. 10, it is noted that the two casing portions 46 and 4611 are retained in operative association by means of spring clips 50 which are adapted to be engaged within aligned recesses or grooves 49 formed in the exterior surfaces of the casing. The recesses 49 extend along the top and along .a side of each casing part 46, 46a so as to permit the clips 50 to be carried within the confines thereof.

In assembly, the terminals are mounted on the terminal board 54. Terminals 32 and 34 retain yokes 77 and 78. Then the terminal board 54 is suitably supported between the two casing sections 46- and 46a with the tabs 54a in alignment with recesses 55. Contactors 80 and 81 are positioned on the yokes 77 and 78. The actuating means are oriented over the contactors with the plungers engaging the ramp portions of the contactors and with bosses 85 on insulator 84 aligned with openings 86 in the casing sections 46, 46a. The casing sections 46 and 4611 are moved toward one another to engage the flange or tab 54a at each end of the terminal board 54 in a respective recess 55 defined in the casing sections 46 and 46a and to engage the bosses 85 in openings 86. The cooperating means 43 on the abutting faces of the casing sections facilitate alignment of the sections 46 and 46a to properly align the terminal board and to align the ground terminals, arm terminals and feed terminals in the respective openings 72, 74 and 73 in the casing sections.

Referring now to FIG. 11, there is shown a schematic wiring circuit incorporating a plurality of switches embodying the present invention for controlling the position of automotive vehicle windows. The gang of four switches 12 (aligned vertically on FIG. may be installed in the motor vehicle adjacent to the driver position to enable the driver to selectively control his window as well as each of the three passenger windows. Switches 12a, 12b and 120 are positioned adjacent passenger locations to enable a passenger to selectively control the height of the passenger Window. It will be noted that the switches are associated in pairs for driving reversible DC motors 98a, 98b and 98c. The switch 12 adjacent the drivers position controls motor 98d. The motors may be of the type having an armature through which current may pass in either of two operative directions to reverse the direction of rotation of the motor in accordance with the selective actuation of the suitable switch lever positioned adjacent the window to be controlled or adjacent the driver position in the vehicle.

In FIG. ll, the top switches 12 and 12a are illustrated in the neutral position wherein the handle or lever 22 is in the central upright position. Contactors 80 and 81 of switch 12 are engaging ground terminals 24 and 26, respectively. Similarly, the contacts 80 a and 81a are engaging ground terminals and are disengaged from the feed terminals in switch 12a. Thus, the motor 98a is inoperatlve. Considering next the switches for actuating the motor 98b, there is illustrated in dotted line the position of the contactor 8012 for completing a circuit so as to actuate the motor 98b to raise a window. Contactor 80b is in engagement with up feed terminal 30b. A circuit is completed from battery 99 through terminal 30b, contactor 80 b, motor 98b, line 10 1, contactor 81 in associated switch 12 to ground terminal 26.

The switch 120 and its associated switch 12 control motor 98c. The contactor 810 as shown in dotted line position, completes a circuit for energizing motor 980 to lower an associated window. The circuit is completed from battery 99 through down feed terminal 28c, contactor 81c, motor 980, contactor 80c, line 102 and contactor 80 in the associated switch 12 in the drivers gang switch assembly to ground.

It will be understood that each of the motors 98a 98b and 98c may be energized from the drivers position upon actuation of an associated switch 12. The direction of rotation is determined by which one of the contactors in a switch are engaged with the feed terminals. Engagement of a contactor with an up feed terminal will cause rotation of the motor to raise a window. Engagement of a contactor 81 with a. down feed terminal will cause reverse rotation of the motor to lower a window. The switch 12 adjacent the drivers position controls the motor 98d for raising and lowering a window adjacent the drivers seat.

When the actuating means for a switch assembly is moved either in an up direction or a down direction, only a single contactor will be moved into engagement with its associated feed terminal.

There has been provided by the present invention novel electrical switch means including a switch assembly having a pair of contactors therein actuated by actuating means comprising two biased plungers movable together, the contactors being supported on yoke means in such manner that only a single contactor is actuated at one time, although the two plungers move together. Another feature of this invention is the manner of securing the terminals to the terminal board and of securing the terminal board within the casing by means of slotted openings and recesses defined in the bottom of the casing halves. The provision of insulator tabs or extensions on the insulator between the ground buss plate and the feed buss plate permits the insulator tabs to be folded against the switch bottoms so as to prevent shorting of the terminals by the spring retainer utilized to position each switch assembly within a mounting member. This invention provides a novel buss plate having slotted openings to connect the respective buss plates to selected terminals of a gang of switches, with other openings provided in the buss plates to prevent undesired contact of certain terminals with the respective buss plates.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled inthe art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention. Therefore, it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Switch means comprising a switch assembly including a terminal board, terminal means including feed terminals; arm terminals and ground terminals, aifixed to" said terminal board, a casing defined by a pair of interengaging casing parts having means therein for supporting and positioning said terminal board, there being a cavity defined within said casing, yoke means supported in said cavity, a pair of contactor means within said casing movably supported on said yoke means, said contactor means each including a planar part and an offset part joined by an intermediate part having ramp means thereon, said contactor means being in side-by-side relationship but oriented in opposite directions, cooperating means on said yoke means and each of said contactor means for permitting pivoting of one contactor means into engagement with a feed terminal at a time, and actuating means including a plunger engaged with each contactor means for moving one contactor means at a time between a position engaging its associated ground terminal to a position engaging an associated feed terminal.

2. Switch means as in claim 1 wherein said ramp means on each contactor means comprises a pair of spaced projections struck out from the intermediate part of each contactor means, and with the projections diverging upwardly from the contactor means.

3. Switch means as in claim 2 wherein said actuating means includes insulator means rotatably supported in the casing, said insulator means carrying the plungers, each plunger having a rounded end that cooperates with the ramp means of an associated contactor means.

4. Switch means as in claim 3 wherein each plunger is slidably supported in a bore in said insulator, spring means between said insulator and a plunger for biasing the 

1. SWITCH MEANS COMPRISING A SWITCH ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A TERMINAL BOARD, TERMINAL MEANS INCLUDING FEED TERMINALS, ARM TERMINALS AND GROUND TERMINALS, AFFIXED TO SAID TERMINAL BOARD, A CASING DEFINED BY A PAIR OF INTERENGAGING CASING PARTS HAVING MEANS THEREIN FOR SUPPORTING AND POSITIONING SAID TERMINAL BOARD, THERE BEING A CAVITY DEFINED WITHIN SAID CASING, YOKE MEANS SUPPORTED ING SAID CAVITY, A PAIR OF CONTACTOR MEANS WITHIN SAID CASING MOVABLY SUPPORTED ON SAID YOKE MEANS, SAID CONTACTOR MEANS EACH INCLUDING A PLANAR PART AND AN OFFSET PART JOINED BY AN INTERMEDIATE PART HAVING RAMP MEANS THEREON, SAID CONTACTOR MEANS BEING IN SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATIONSHIP BUT ORIENTED IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, COOPERATING MEANS ON SAID YOKE MEANS AND EACH OF SAID CONTACTOR MEANS FOR PERMITTING PIVOTING OF ONE CONTACTOR MEANS INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH A FEED TERMINAL AT A TIME, AND ACTUATING MEANS INCLUDING A PLUNGER ENGAGED WITH EACH CONTACTOR MEANS FOR MOVING ONE CONTACTOR MEANS AT A TIME BETWEEN A POSITION ENGAGING ITS ASSOCIATED GROUND TERMINAL TO A POSITION ENGAGING AN ASSOCIATED FEED TERMINAL. 